Google introduces 'Neighbourly' app to seek help from surroundings

Search giant Google has introduced Neighbourly – a neighbourhood app that helps you ask your neighbours questions, share local expertise, and keep up with them.

According to Google, the main idea behind developing this app was that in cities across India, it’s getting harder to get answers to local questions such as where is a good surgeon, which festivals has free entry for the kids because cities keep changing, including the people who live there.

A survey found that people nearby often have the exact information you need, but they’re too busy these days to stop and chat on the street or in the park. And group chats keep getting bigger and noisier — and are often fill up with those "Good Morning" messages.

“And yet we need answers. That's why Google built Neighbourly. With Neighbourly, your questions get routed to the relevant neighbours instantly, and then they can write back with the most up-to-date and accurate info. Neighbourly acts as a human, helpful and local way to ask and answer neighbourhood questions,” said Caesar Sengupta, VP, Next Billion Users Team, Google.

Neighbourly helps you ask your neighbours questions. Ask a question for your family, and it's routed to the neighbourhood experts who can help. Using Google's voice recognition, you can speak your question or answer into the app, just like talking to a neighbour. It works in English and eight Indian languages.

You can share your local expertise. Easily swipe left and right through the questions and give answers. The more you answer, the more you’re recognised for your local expertise. Plus, every time you answer, that information directly helps one of your neighbours and makes your entire neighbourhood more informed.

Browse, ask and answer questions without sharing all of your personal information. Personal details like your phone number, full name and other contact information are kept private when you use Neighbourly. And every member that joins Neighbourly makes the Neighbourly Promise so we can all work together to keep the app’s community safe and helpful.

The Beta version of Neighbourly app is available on the Google Play Store for all smartphones in Mumbai running Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) and higher. If you live outside Mumbai, join the waitlist and invite your neighbours.